Birth Companions' comment on publication of the Born into Care research and draft guidelines
The number of newborns in care proceedings and the number of removals that take place shortly after birth with little or no notice has risen. These are traumatic events for everyone involved with serious implications for the outcomes of mothers, babies, families and the professionals who work with them.
The latest research in the Born into Care series from the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory is a real opportunity to build understanding and drive improvements in the care offered to pregnant women and mothers during their contact with the maternity and social care systems.
At Birth Companions we are proud to have played a part in this research, with staff and several members of our Lived Experience Team sitting on the advisory boards. This work would not have the same strength, credibility or potential to drive meaningful change had it not been shaped so fundamentally by the involvement of women who have faced separation from their babies. Their bravery and commitment in choosing to share those experiences in order to help others is to be commended.
We look forward to helping ensure the learning presented in this project is taken up across social work, maternity and beyond, with real ambition. In particular, the draft guidelines published today should play a central role in informing and shaping professional practice. We will be involved in the further development of these guidelines over the coming months.
